STATHAM, Ga. (Nov. 16, 2007)-- Opening-round leader Dalton Golf and Country Club turned in three scores of even-par 71 in the individual stroke play round to increase its lead and win its first Georgia Team Championship at The Georgia Club. Dalton finished with a total of 9-under par 346 to post a four-stroke victory over Rome’s Stonebridge Golf Club, which came from well back in the pack to score 350 and earn runner-up honors.
Berkeley Hills Golf Club of Duluth placed third at 3-under 352. Cartersville Country Club, which trailed Dalton by one stroke after the opening-round four-ball matches, finished fourth at 1-under 354. Three teams tied for fifth at even-par 355, including Athens Country Club, Reynolds Plantation of Greensboro and St. Ives Country Club of Duluth. Defending champion Laurel Springs Golf Club of Suwanee placed eighth at 356, while last year’s runner-up, Duluth’s Atlanta Athletic Club, was one stroke back in ninth. Rivermont Golf and Country Club of Alpharetta, the 2003 Team champion, rounded out the top 10 at 358.
In the final round, which featured best-three-of-four stroke play scoring, Dalton G&CC turned in three 71s from reigning Georgia Mid-Amateur champion David Noll Jr. of Dalton, Mike Nance of Calhoun and John Powell of Dalton. Matt Oxford of Rocky Face was the fourth member of Dalton’s team.
Stonebridge was tied for 11th – seven strokes back of Dalton – after the opening round. But it vaulted up the leader board into second place thanks to a field-low, 5-under 66 from the reigning Georgia Public Links champion Brent Sizemore of Calhoun. Stonebridge also carded a 71 from Martin Ball and 73 from Ladell Norton, both of Rome, for a field-best final-round score of 3-under 210.
In addition to Sizemore, just four other players broke par in the final round. Doug Stiles of Athens CC carded 67, while Mel Mendenhall of Marietta and Reynolds Plantation turned in a 68. Atlanta Athletic Club’s Doug Green of Cumming shot 69, and Jayce Stepp of Cartersville CC recorded 70.
Dalton G&CC wins its first Team Championship after placing in the top five in each of the last three years. They were fourth in both 2006 and 2004, and tied for second in 2005.
The Georgia Club, which hosted the Team Championship for the third-straight year, played to approximately 7,113 yards and a par of 71. Teams played the Black and Silver nines.
Entries were open to four-man teams of male amateur golfers who are Georgia residents and selected by their GSGA member club. The field was open to 30 teams on a first come, first serve basis.
--Story courtesy GSGA
View results for Georgia Men's Club Championship
ABOUT THE Georgia Men's Club Championship
Entries: Open to four-man teams of male
amateur
golfers who are selected by their GSGA Member
Club.
Format: One round of four-ball stroke play and
one round of best three of four individual stroke
play
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